Common Causes of Divorce in South Africa

Common causes of divorce in South Africa include alcoholism, drug abuse, physical and sexual abuse and a simple broken marriage. Marriage is no longer the institution that it once was and it is becoming increasingly common for couples to seek legal separation and even divorce when things are no longer working. All people that were married under the law must seek a divorce in court in order to legally dissolve their marriage. This is slightly easier when just a man and women are involved but it becomes more difficult when the man and woman are parents, and there are children to think about as well.

There is no simple explanation for the common causes of divorce in South Africa because each relationship is different. However, socially, the increase in divorce can be explained in a number of ways. Firstly, social problems like poverty, alcoholism and drug abuse create a context where marital relations are stressful and difficult to sustain. When this is linked with physical and sexual abuse the problem is worsened. A broken marriage is a terrible thing, but it is more terrible to stay in an abusive marriage. Many people know this and thus seek a court separation in order to protect themselves and or their children. As parents, it is important to put the needs and safety of your children first.

All couples start out hoping that their marriage will stand the test of time, but unfortunately this cannot always happen. If you are about to get married then the best thing that you can do for yourself is to sign a legal prenuptial agreement. This document will allow the court proceedings to flow more smoothly if you do seek separation and divorce. If you speak to your lawyer they will explain the common causes of divorce in South Africa.